(March 8, 2020) Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald made the following statement marking International Women’s Day 2020 (#IWD2020):

“Today, people around the world are celebrating International Women’s Day with the theme #EachforEqual. International Women’s Day marks an important day to recognize the vibrant economic, social, political, and cultural achievements of women across the globe, as well as to raise awareness about the importance of gender equality in all spaces.

Indigenous women have consistently struggled for equality and faced gender-based violence and ongoing challenges, resource barriers, discrimination and racism that have prevented them from leading happy and healthy lives.

It has been ten months since the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Inquiry released their final report entitled “Reclaiming Power and Place.” We have yet to see a clear and strong national action plan on how the federal government plans to implement the 231 Calls to Justice and how the families and individuals who have been impacted will be involved.

I am echoing my previous call to action to the federal and provincial governments to move beyond words on paper and invest in the proper tools and funding for new, innovative programs and services that will create substantive equality for Indigenous women. This involves the full implementation of the 231 recommendations and consistency across and within all policies and legislation that promote self-determination and women’s participation and addresses the systemic violence against indigenous women, girls and the 2SLGBTQQIA community.

Gender equality is an opportunity to raise our families’ quality of life and improve their community’s socio-economic circumstances for the next seven generations. By investing in culturally-appropriate and community-based services for Indigenous women, we will, in return, produce promising ways to address the unique needs of all Indigenous peoples.

I invite all to join me in celebrating #IWD2020. Let us continue our essential work toward gender equality in our communities and across the world.”

Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald

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The Chiefs of Ontario is a political forum and a secretariat for collective decision making, action, and advocacy for the 133 First Nation communities located within the boundaries of the province of Ontario, Canada. Follow the Chiefs of Ontario on Facebook or Twitter @ChiefsOfOntario.

Chiefs of Ontario – Media Contact:
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Email: Genna.Benson@coo.org